Twin Stars
‘The sky is falling in,” said Chicken Little.
On the PBS television show The Newshour with Jim Lehrer he spoke to Dr. Ho Young about the phrase, May you live in interesting times. Young explained that “interesting,” rather than suggesting good times, refers to dangerous, war-mongering, political, and turbulent times. It is more of a curse than a good wish, making the recipient crave a simpler, more peaceful life. The most fascinating periods in history were filled with tumult and upheaval. Amazon has over 70,000 nonfiction books about World War II and at least 20,000 on the Holocaust. I remember being told it was it was an ancient Chinese proverb. Chinese scholar Torrey Whitman says it is more likely an English saying spread by Lord Chamberlain in the late 1930s.
Though the phrase may not be Chinese, much can be learned from studying China’s thirteen dynastic periods that start with the Xia Dynasty (c. 2070-1600 BC). The Quig dynasty (1644-1912) was the last imperial dynasty, though some consider the Communist party ruling today, its latest.
A political theory about the Dynastic Periods in Chinese history says the public initially favored new dynasties. They often initiated a political, cultural, and economic revival, bringing peace and prosperity after an era of conflict. Regime collapse follows in future generations due to corrupt government officials, economic declines, and poorly handled natural disasters like famine and floods. It reaches a breaking point when the peasants decide the monarch no longer has a “Mandate from Heaven” to rule. Revolt follows, and a new regime takes over.
In China, it was the ordinary person, the common man or woman, who initiated change. Not all people have the courage to do that. When times are bad, some cultures take a different path than action; they retreat, fearing the end of days. They become insular, divest themselves of belongings, and lose hope for their future. Like ostriches, they appear to bury their heads in the sand rather than overthrow an evil regime. We see this today when people follow toxic leaders rather than rise against those who take our rights away, spread falsehoods, act immorally, poorly manage national disasters, support evil regimes, and show little compassion.
Websites like the one put up after Hurricane Katrina abound. It was a pulpit espousing that God sent the hurricane because New Orleans was a wicked city and was sending a warning to the rest of the nation. Octogenarian Harold Camping’s nightly bible show tormented its doomsday listeners into believing that in 2011, waves from a gigantic earthquake would roll over the earth, killing all in its path. Many followers gave up their friends, homes, and life savings. When the world didn’t end, and no one rose to heaven, rather than feel like fools, they clung together with a changed date and a different narrative about God’s intention. The many who felt embarrassed usually altered their belief in God.
“A Brief History of the Apocalypse ( https://www.abhota.info/end1.htm) gives a timeline of end-time predictions. An Assyrian clay tablet unearthed dating to approximately 2800 BC is one of the earliest examples of the perception of moral decay being interpreted as a sign of the imminent end. It bears the words, “Our earth is degenerate in these latter days. There are signs that the world is speedily coming to an end. Bribery and corruption are common.”
The apocalypse list continues to grow, with politics and environment added to the list of reasons for the earth’s demise. False prophets continue to spread untruths to gullible people through the internet. Scientists predict that the sun will swell into a red giant star, swallowing Mercury, Venus, Earth, and perhaps Mars in 4,400,000,000 AD, and that this will be the actual end of the world.
All of earth’s creatures will undoubtedly suffer if we don’t care for the water, air, and land that nurtures us. We will die in wars if we don’t find ways to get along. Falling prey to corrupt and greedy politicians brings hardships, but not the end of the world. There will be survivors, though it may not be you or me if we don’t have the resources to withstand “interesting times.” This is why ordinary people have to take action and no longer sit in easy chairs, praying, and hoping for better days. It is incumbent on everyone to get involved and install a regime that works for the common good.
I look forward to your comments on my BLOG SITE.
Twin Stars is a 16” by 20” framed acrylic painting. It is available and shipped free in the continental U.S. for $ 395. Purchase on my website at https://www.eichingerfineart.com/workszoom/1662376/twin-stars#/ Questions? Contact me at marilynne@eichingerfineart.com.
Resources:
Yong, H.,(2025) May you Live in Interesting Times? China Sprout, Chinese Cultural Education Products. Retrieved from https://www.chinasprout.com/community/guestcolumns/21
Website (2025) What were the 13 Major dynasties of China? Encyclopedia BritannicaRetrieved from https://www.britannica.com/video/learn-about-Chinas-six-ruling-dynasties/-259717
Website (2011) A Brief History of the Apocalypse https://www.abhota.info/end1.htm
Huus, K. (2005) Apocalypse, now? NBC New. Retrieved from https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna9731623#.UjBbjNKsiSo
Website (2025) Here’s how our Universe will (probably) End. Science Focus. Retrieved from https://www.abhota.info/end1.htm
Lipman-BLumen, J. (2005) THE ALLURE OF TOXIC LEADERS: WHY FOLLOWERS RARELY ESCAPE THEIR CLUTCHEs. Ivey Business Journal. Retrieved from https://iveybusinessjournal.com/publication/the-allure-of-toxic-leaders-why-followers-rarely-escape-their-clutches/
Bartlett, T. (2012) A year after the non-Aapocalpse: where are they now? Religion Dispatches. Retrieved from https://religiondispatches.org/a-year-after-the-non-apocalypse-where-are-they-now/
